Upgrading facilities in rural areas to help in improving our football- Nyamilandu

By Antony Isaiah Jr

The Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu says upgrading of sports facilities in rural areas will help to improve the football standard in the country.

He made the remarks in Nsanje where he graced the launch of FAM Under-14 and Under-16 Community project at Khulubvi ground saying Shire Valley districts have talent but poor infrastructures impede them from displaying their skills.

“We have football talent here in Shire Valley districts but we cannot show it because of poor infrastructures. Our sons were called for trials by some top clubs in Blantyre but they have been failing to make it. Not because they didn’t have skills, but it is due to the inexperience of playing on standard pitches,” said Nyamilandu.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi boss has revealed that the World Football governing body has pledged to upgrade Nsanje Community Ground into Modern stadium.

Nyamilandu told the nations that discussions with Fifa are at an advanced stage and the project is expected to start next year. He added that the fifa officials had already a round of inspection on the facility.

Nyamilandu said the project has been situated in the Shire Valley districts, Chikwawa and Nsanje are failing to have an opportunity to watch elite football action due to lack of standard sports facilities.

He said that the football grounds in Nsanje and Chikwawa are bare and dusty which makes difficult for players to display their skills.

“If we have good facility in the district, it could be a catalyst for good and entertaining football in the Lower Shire. I have been holding talks with Fifa on how they can support this project because they identified Nsanje as being a prone area to Cyclone and floods. Now our discussions are at an advanced stage and Fifa will come next year to upgrade Nsanje Community ground into a modern stadium, ” said Nyamilandu.

He further added that the upgrading of facilities will not only happen in Nsanje but also extended to other rural areas in the country.

Nyamilandu pointed to the upgrading of facilities that have happened in districts like Dedza where Dedza Dynamos are using as home ground, Ntcheu and Thyolo and he expects it to get into districts like Mwanza, Phalomwe and chiradzulu.